A Seattle Neighborhood Website

Main menu

Post navigation

Passport to Romance

So you just finished reading your most recent romance novel, or maybe even considering writing one yourself. Wouldn’t be great to chat with published romance authors, pick up free books, a ton of swag, enter a raffle, effuse with fellow readers, and buy a swill drink at a cash bar? Passport to Romance at the Westin Hotel Bellevue this weekend just might be your ticket to bliss.

The Greater Seattle Romance Writers of America (GSRWA) are hosting this free reader appreciation event/celebration from 6-8 pm on this coming Saturday, October 14th . This is part of the larger Emerald City Writers’ Conference taking place October 13-15th, which offers informative classes for aspiring or established romance authors. Although it was closed, conference registration has now been slightly extended, and is on a case-by-case basis. So if interested in improving your writing chops, it might be worth asking.

The first 100 attendees to the Passport to Romance (Facebook page) receive free swag bags, and authors will be at the event with their own swag, including books. Arriving early also has another advantage: a cash bar will be set up outside the room around 5 pm. Fun, romantic gift baskets will be raffled off, with tickets starting at $1. A Writers’ Lounge will be set up where you can chat with other romance readers/writers and exchange items, if so inclined. A book cover contest was previously held by GSRWA in which readers could vote, and the winner will be announced Saturday night. And, if all this isn’t enough to entice you, at least three male models who have posed for book covers will be there to meet & greet you. Potentially wearing a Highland kilt.

It’s been suggested to park in Lincoln Square (the Westin’s parking lot) or Bellevue Square during those 2 hours, and should be free. Bring a bag or backpack to carry all those goodies in. As Carmen Cook, 2016 GSRWA President, mentioned about past Passports to Romance: “Aside from meeting your favorite authors, the camraderie of being with a hundred+ like-minded readers…it’s a huge, fun party.”